Best Friends…To Lovers - Jules Bennett Mills & Boon M&B

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Mac would rip him limb from limb.

      How could he seduce her when she’d placed her heart, her protection in his hands? The answer was as simple as it was complex...he couldn’t.

      “We went to great lengths to get Carter out of your life when you needed us to step in,” Mac went on as he took a few more steps down the dock and away from a couple who had just come outside. “Even if Ryker did call Carter to scare him off, then you need to realize he has your best interests at heart.”

      “He doesn’t have a heart.”

      That was debatable, but still. Mac wasn’t going to keep arguing. “You need to settle this with Ryker.”

      “He won’t take my calls.”

      “He’s working on a lead.” He didn’t need to say what for. They’d all been diligently searching for the scrolls since their father had made them promise to uncover them. “Don’t take it personally.”

      “If you called him he’d answer,” she muttered. “If that jackass thinks he can avoid me...”

      Mac smiled. “I’m sure he’ll return your call soon enough. I need to get back to dinner.”

      “Sorry. I know you’re with Jenna. Tell her I said hi.”

      “Will do. Love you, Laney.”

      “Love you, brother.”

      Mac shoved the phone back in his pocket and made a mental note to contact Ryker tomorrow. Laney was an adult, yes, but she was beautiful, and as the only female O’Shea, some men saw her as a challenge. Like hell.

      “Everything okay?”

      Mac jerked around. “Yeah. My sister said to tell you hi.”

      Jenna’s face softened. “I haven’t seen her since she came down to Miami to visit you.”

      Mac slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Let’s get back to dinner.”

      Jenna paused, her hand on his chest as she looked up at him. “If we could hurry and pretend we can’t wait to get back to the room that would be great.”

      Mac swallowed at the thought of her in a rush to get him alone, but he quickly reminded himself he’d vowed to cool it and respect her during their charade. But he had a feeling that keeping that vow would test every ounce of his willpower and sanity.

      “Martin just came in and sat at another table, but I want out of here before you blacken his other eye.”

      Mac kissed her forehead. “No more punching tonight, I promise.”

      Jenna patted his chest and laughed. “You’re all heart. My sister is pressing for more wedding details, so we need to keep the conversation on something else.”

      “Not a problem.” He’d discuss the damn weather before he got into a conversation about his impending nuptials. That day would never come and even in theory, the idea made him cringe.

      As they neared the table again, Mac slid his hand along Jenna’s neck, smoothing her hair aside. “I hope you’re ready to put on a show to make this believable. We’ve still got that bet on the line.”

      Jenna froze beneath his touch, but quickly recovered enough to throw him a killer smile. “I think you need to get ready for my performance.”

      Mac nipped at her lips and pulled her close. “Baby, I’m always ready.”

       Seven

      Amy was saying something about... Jenna honestly had no clue because Mac had scooted so close to her. His hand was traveling up her thigh, pulling the hem of her dress up, and he’d just whispered something so naughty in her ear, she wondered where he learned of such a thing.

      If his intent was to get her flustered and squirming in her seat, mission accomplished.

      Jenna tipped her head just slightly, suppressing a groan as Mac’s fingertips made a pattern over her bare skin. If he moved his hand any higher she’d have a hard time remaining ladylike in public.

      Damn that man. He was owning this role of fiancé/lover. No way would he win this bet, though.

      Jenna smiled and nodded as Amy stated how their mother had found the most beautiful lilac dress for the wedding. But Mac’s relentless touches had her shifting in her seat, spreading her legs slightly and letting out a low, soft sigh.

      Mac froze a half second before he moved his hand to her inner thigh. Jenna’s first thought was that he’d probably never felt a thick, bare leg like hers before. Her second thought was...she wished he could just go a little higher to relieve her ache.

      “If you did a Christmas wedding, we could totally do a classy white theme,” Amy went on, clearly oblivious to what was happening beneath the table.

      Unable to help herself, Jenna leaned against Mac. She told herself she was just playing the part, but she was starting to think this part was playing her. He removed his hand from her thigh, and she nearly whimpered at the loss, but then he smoothed her hair away from her neck and started massaging the sensitive flesh there. Oh, yeah. He had some talented hands and she didn’t want to think about how many women had groaned beneath his touch.

      “No matter when Jenna decides to have the wedding, she’ll be a beautiful bride.”

      Mac kissed her cheek and trailed his fingertips down her spine, sending an instant onslaught of goose bumps all over her body despite the heat.

      “I hate to cut this dinner short,” Mac went on. “But Martin is staring in this direction and I won’t have him upsetting Jenna again. Besides, I want to have as much alone time with my gorgeous fiancée as I can. You understand, don’t you, Nathan?”

      Nathan nodded and lifted his nearly empty beer mug. “I do. I’ll talk to Martin in a bit. I didn’t know he was harassing you guys.”

      “He’s not harassing us.” Jenna refused to add fuel to the fire. The situation with Martin was bad enough. “He just thinks we’re getting back together and I’ve had to tell him several times it’s not happening. I’m sure now that he’s seen how close Mac and I are, he’ll back off.”

      Mac squeezed her shoulder. “Let’s go, sweetheart. I’m done discussing your ex.”

      The endearment he delivered seemed so genuine, so perfect. Jenna didn’t want to get so wrapped up in this that she forgot what was truly happening. Mac was simply playing a role. He wasn’t a man she could ever tame and he wasn’t looking for anything beyond this week. She knew him better than most, so to cling to any false hope would only leave her with a bruised heart.

      Amy winked at Jenna. “See you tomorrow. Don’t forget we have a bonfire on the beach at nine.”

      Jenna came to her feet when Mac pulled out her chair. “I’ll be there,” she promised. “See you guys tomorrow.”

      Mac rested his hand on the small of her back, his fingertips brushing her rear end, sending even more jolts of arousal through her. She didn’t remember being so responsive before, but she’d also never been touched so intimately by Mac, either. Clearly the man had a special touch, one her body instantly loved.

      As soon as they reached the doorway, Mac patted her bottom. “Go on ahead, sweetheart. I’m going to settle the bill and I’ll be right there.”

      “There’s no bill,” she told him. “It’s all part of the package my sister paid for.”

      “Go on, Jenna.”

      Something about the way his eyes seemed darker, his smile seemed tighter, had her wondering what he wasn’t telling her, but Jenna nodded and headed back toward their bungalow. She needed a moment without Mac, a moment away from his touch, his powerful presence. Jenna pulled in deep breaths as she walked along

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